Showing posts with label Non Dual. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Non Dual. Show all posts

 

ChatGPT translated a passage I wrote from Chinese to English:

Here's the translation of the passage you provided:

"I feel that what I wrote yesterday was not clear, so I wanted to elaborate:

When you reify awareness, it becomes one whole, encompassing everything as its parts, just like the ocean and its waves. But when you deconstruct the waves and the ocean, the whole and the parts, it's merely the bright, luminous, pellucid, vividness of sound, taste, and color – the basis upon which waves and ocean are mere imputations of. Awareness is just a name but empty of its own existence, like how 'weather' is a term denoting rain, wind, sunlight, and all dynamic manifestations of ungraspable nature, and is not a container or singular overarching entity, nor does it transform into or modulate as them. Similarly, awareness isn't an unchanging singular overarching entity that permeates, encompasses, subsumes, or even modulates as everything. What's seen, heard, and felt is clear, vivid, luminous, and crystal-like. 'Awareness' is merely a term to describe such, not permeated/pervaded by a singular essence of awareness across all diverse sights, sounds, and sensations. Ultimately, awareness is seen as not possessing its own intrinsic nature, not just as a dualistic nature of a background witness, but also empty of a substance that possesses 'oneness with everything' or a unity with all things. And the 'awareness substance' is seen through without leaving a trace, leaving only the luminosity and clarity that is all appearances, not just a state of self-forgetfulness but a wisdom insight. As Scott Kiloby, a teacher from America, once said: 'If you see awareness as no different from everything, and those things are not separate "things", why use the term 'awareness'? You are left only with the world, your life, and the diversity of experiences.' Another teacher, Dr. Greg Goode, who initially practiced Advaita but later delved deeply into Buddhism, told me: '

It looks your Bahiya Sutta experience helped you see awareness in a different way, more .... empty. You had a background in a view that saw awareness as more inherent or essential or substantive?

I had an experience like this too. I was reading a sloka in Nagarjuna's treatise about the "prior entity," and I had been meditating on "emptiness is form" intensely for a year. These two threads came together in a big flash. In a flash, I grokked the emptiness of awareness as per Madhyamika. This realization is quite different from the Advaitic oneness-style realization. It carries one out to the "ten-thousand things" in a wonderful, light and free and kaleidoscopic, playful insubstantial clarity and immediacy. No veils, no holding back. No substance or essence anywhere, but love and directness and intimacy everywhere..."

Among the practitioners I've met (be it Buddhist or non-Buddhist), of those that can realize the nonduality of perceiver and perceived, even if they transcend the duality of the seer and the seen, they still retain the oneness (inherent ontological singular overarching substance) of Advaita, not realizing the Buddhist anatta, still leaving traces. They might experience the mindlessness of 'in the seen just the seen', but still retain the view of a really existing singular pervasive mind, so experience and view are not in sync.

Thus, Master Guoru, a lineage successor of Ch'an Master Shengyan, also said in the book I gave you, 'Believing that there exists a pure mind is absolutely wrong. "True illumination without illumination", "One mind is empty of Mind", these phrases are all about the ultimate reality of all dharmas. The Record of Bodhisattva Shanwei also mentions: "In the nature of extinction, there's no extinction; in true awareness, there's no cognizance", which can be understood theoretically.' Patriarch Bodhidharma also said, 'Both delusive thoughts and wisdom cease forever; when both luminosity and illumination end, remaining serene and non-active, this is called the supreme.' Damo's discourse on No-mind: 'The disciple then suddenly realized, knowing that outside the mind there's no phenomena, and outside of phenomena, there's no mind. Every action and use became free, breaking all webs of doubt, with no more attachments.'

🙏."

(Note: The translation tries to capture the essence and literal meaning of the text while ensuring comprehensibility in English. Some Buddhist terms are kept as close to their original meaning as possible.)

John tan commented on one of Adyashanti’s videos back in 2020, “ It is a good video but a bit long.  There is also genuine distinction between All as Self which is Non-dual but substantialist and no-self that is Non-dual and non-substantialist.  One does not need to take side but have to b objective and unbiased.  Hence clearly discerning the differences and implications r key to understanding how the mind reifies and how confusions arise.  Therefore on top of experiences which is quite difficult to differentiate clearly the two in experience (all as Self and No-Self) and authentication of pristine consciousness in real time, clearly seeing how the layers obscures is part and parcel of maturing our experiences and insights.”


Shared: 


"They point to different insights, and there are different insights even for nondual, substantialist and nonsubstantialist. David loy isnt clear about this point

His original nonduality book, he seems to confuse anatta with no mind state. Not clear about anatta as realization

He is conflating all is self with no self insight

The implications are huge [different view and realization]

(Soh: Read this article on the two different types of nondual insight, one of John Tan's 'must read' articles: 4) Realization and Experience and Non-Dual Experience from Different Perspectives )

His latest book seems to be clear about anatta realization i think


I wrote back in 2011 April,


Originally posted by An Eternal Now:

This is why I said most masters are still at the phase of substantial non-dual.

As for David Loy, he is a little unique. It could be that he has realized Anatta... but his insight is shadowed by his attempt to link up the religions (he was doing inter-religious comparison). Therefore he was unable to differentiate substantial non-dualism from anatta. In his book 'Non-duality', this is clearly the case.

However it is also likely that he is still in substantial non-dual phase.


Thusness replied:

Wow...If I am not wrong, David Loy is a qualified Zen Teacher and a Ph. D in Philosophy.  For you to make such a comment , you must be doubtless of your realization.

I am glad of your confidence and clarity of your realization.  This is the difference between having insights (clear seeing of the nature of experiential reality) and having mere experiences of no-mind and non-dual.

In my opinion, even though the insight is clear, to be like what Ted has remarked in the article Where There Is No Cold or Heat will still take some time.  Practice diligently and enter deeply into the 6 entires and exits "where there is no cold or heat".  This experience too can be as natural as breathing in our moment to moment of experience if we embrace the right view fully.  Have no doubt about it. :-)

 

But not everyone that realises anatta are clear about the different phases of insights, the impact of view experience realization etc.

The same for alan watts although his insights are clear

[12:16 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: U have to understand Alan Watts equates Taoism, Buddhism and Advaita as the same because he sees the beauty of unity.
[12:16 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: Also, he sees a state of no-mind in all the teachings
[12:16 AM, 5/19/2020] Soh Wei Yu: Sounds like david loy
[12:16 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: Yes
[12:17 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: This is not that they do not have the insights
[12:17 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: But they see the beauty
[12:18 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: However they may not differentiate insight from experience and view
[12:18 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: And may not see the importance of that...
[12:18 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: So it depends
[12:19 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: All have different conditions, how one penetrates the teaching differs.
[12:20 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: I find Alan Watts very insightful though his life doesn't reflect that...lol
[12:20 AM, 5/19/2020] Soh Wei Yu: Lol
[12:21 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: Actually I m still looking for texts that can differentiate them clearly
[12:21 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: Or books
[12:22 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: On fact Malcolm is already very unique
[12:22 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: Lol
[12:22 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: Kyle also
[12:24 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: Dzogchen however seems to equate DO from only the afflictive point of view unlike the gelug, they put lots of emphasis on DO not from afflictive perspective.
[12:25 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: DO is the king of reasoning, it is the middle path and the essence of Buddhism.
[12:26 AM, 5/19/2020] Soh Wei Yu: texts that can differentiate advaita from emptiness/D.O.?
[12:26 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: Emptiness cannot b understood apart from DO.
[12:27 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: Texts or books that and differentiate experience from insight and present the view in relation to anatta experience.
[12:27 AM, 5/19/2020] Soh Wei Yu: oic..
[12:28 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: The same experience when experienced from substantialist view will end up subsuming.
[12:30 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: But we see buddhism many spoke of a state of no mind but using DO and Emptiness not as the presentation of the right view but as a path of disassociation towards an ultimate awareness.
[12:30 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: Teacher cheb seems to b that approach too.
[12:30 AM, 5/19/2020] Soh Wei Yu: yeah..
[12:30 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: In fact Theravada teaching is more anatta
[12:30 AM, 5/19/2020] Soh Wei Yu: ven. hui lu seems different in that regard
[12:31 AM, 5/19/2020] Soh Wei Yu: in that video he criticised other religion eternalism and said "permanence" is simply the emptiness and dependent arising of impermanence
[12:31 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: However they r anatta in no-self but view isn't strong
[12:31 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: Yes ven hui Lu is quite good
[12:31 AM, 5/19/2020] Soh Wei Yu: oic..
[12:32 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: What I din see in hui Lu is it remains as wisdom teaching
[12:33 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: Experience wise I prefer that 王洪亮?
[12:33 AM, 5/19/2020] Soh Wei Yu: "What I din see in hui Lu is it remains as wisdom teaching" what do u mean
[12:34 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: Although hui Lu comment is good and clear, anatta isn't clear.
[12:35 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: The experience no mind due to anatta insight then into DO and Emptiness is important.
[12:35 AM, 5/19/2020] Soh Wei Yu: "
再来,第一,令诸众生获得十四种无畏功德,即【1、不自观音以观观者,】因为观世音菩萨修耳根圆通的。不自观音就是不会拿这个音声……以观观者,第一个“观”叫做能观,“观者”就是所观。他不会拿这个音声,来变作一个能观跟所观。意思就是:观世音菩萨已经证得金刚三昧,就是心境一如的意思。不自观音就是不拿这个外在的音声,化为一个能观,一个所观,因为音声就是清净自性的缘起相,没有二相,缘起相就是真如相。所以,不自观音以观观者,观世音菩萨不会拿外面的这个音声,化作一个能观、所观。众生都是这样,听到美好的音声,心都跑掉了,一个能听,一个所听,心就跑掉了,就迷迷茫茫了。观世音菩萨知道,音声是幻灭的,幻灭就是实相的显现,缘起就是实相。【使受苦众生即得解脱,】让受苦的众生就得到解脱,【是为无畏。】"

"
大 悟之人不见法。他没有任何东西,因为法法本空,法法不相到。也不见身。为什么?四大本空,五阴本来就没有“我”。所以,什么叫做照见五蕴皆空?色即是空, 受想行识即是空。为什么讲色即是空?色即是空,空就是佛性,色就是佛性的展现。所以,真正的悟道的人,他的心性流露在一切缘起法里面,即于生灭,即得不生 不灭的无为法,也没有所谓有为跟无为,刹那即见永恒,永恒就是刹那,平等不二。 因此我们要了解:不见法,也不见身。身,地水火风所构成的,四大本来就空,五蕴——色受想行识,本来就是不可得。一切法,智者了知一切法,本来就无我。这无我里面,当下就是佛性。所以,佛法讲否定的时候,凡所有相,皆是假相。讲肯定的时候,尘尘都是真心,每一个颗粒微尘都是真心的影现,一切法全部都是真。 当他破除无明烦恼、破除执着、破除分别的时候,完全都是真心展现的,尘尘尽是真,没有一法不是真心,这个是站在肯定的角度。站在否定的角度,是凡所有相不 可得。站在本体界的角度,凡所有相,都是本体界的展现,都是清净心的影现,没有一法不是真实。"

- ven hui lu
[12:36 AM, 5/19/2020] Soh Wei Yu: this is still more like nondual, not anatta?
[12:36 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: I got to read
[12:36 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: What is that Zen teacher name?
[12:36 AM, 5/19/2020] Soh Wei Yu: 洪文亮?
[12:36 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: Yes
[12:37 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: U see hui Lu is speaking from highest form of teaching
[12:38 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: Actually very good
[12:38 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: U should pass your mom
[12:39 AM, 5/19/2020] Soh Wei Yu: ok
[12:40 AM, 5/19/2020] Soh Wei Yu: I also like 洪文亮。 i think these two, hong wen liang and hui lu fa shi are the only chinese masters i really resonate lol
[12:41 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: Yeah only two that is really clear
[12:41 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: But u cannot read it from ur understanding
[12:41 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: It is not suitable for many ppl
[12:41 AM, 5/19/2020] Soh Wei Yu: What do u mean
[12:42 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: This text is very good. But not suitable for many ppl.
[12:43 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: It involves anatta insight, emptiness and DO, clarity from anatta perspective.
[12:44 AM, 5/19/2020] Soh Wei Yu: oic..
[12:46 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: He should say 尘尘假相都是真心
[12:48 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: The text that I wrote for u to teacher Chen, paste it here
[12:52 AM, 5/19/2020] Soh Wei Yu: 深入观行, 婆酰迦经。
了悟经旨, 直指无心。
无执能所, 忘却身心。
方知见性, 只需明相。
明相见性, 见色明心。
真心空性, 随缘显相。
迷时幻相, 悟时真心。
山河大地, 原是法身。
色声香味, 尽是妙心。
[12:52 AM, 5/19/2020] John Tan: Lol




-------




4. On Non-Dual Experience, Realization and Anatta

I have just casually gone through some of your forum discussions. Very enlightening discussions and well presentation of my 7-phases-of-insights but try not to over-emphasize it as a model; it should not be taken as a definite model of enlightenment nor should you use it as a framework to validate others' experiences and insights. Simply take it as a guide along your spiritual journey.

You are right to differentiate non-dual experience from non-dual realization and non-dual realization from the insight of anatta. We have discussed this umpteem times. Non-dual experience in the context we are using refers to the experience of no-subject-object division. The experience is much like putting two candle flames together where the boundary between the flames becomes indistinguishable. It is not a realization but simply a stage, an experience of unity between the observer and the observed where the conceptual layer that divides is temporarily suspended in a meditative state. This you have experienced.

Non-dual realization on the other hand is a deep understanding that comes from seeing through the illusionary nature of subject-object division. It is a natural non-dual state that resulted from an insight that arises after rigorous investigation, challenge and a prolonged period of practice that is specially focused on ‘No-Self’. Somehow focusing on “No-Self” will spark a sense of sacredness towards the transient and fleeting phenomena. The sense of sacredness that is once the monopoly of the Absolute is now also found in the Relative. The term ‘No-Self’ like Zen-Koan may appear cryptic, senseless or illogical but when realized, it is actually obviously clear, direct and simple. The realization is accompanied with the experience that everything is being dissolved into either:

1. An ultimate Subject or
2. As mere ‘flow of phenomenality’

In whatever the case, both spells the end of separateness; experientially there is no sense of two-ness and the experience of unity can be quite overwhelming initially but eventually it will lose its grandeur and things turn quite ordinary. Nevertheless, regardless of whether the sense of Oneness is derived from the experience of ‘All as Self’ or ‘as simply just manifestation’, it is the beginning insight of “No-Self”. The former is known as One-Mind and the later, No-Mind.

In Case 1 it is usual that practitioners will continue to personify, reify and extrapolate a metaphysical essence in a very subtle way, almost unknowingly. This is because despite the non-dual realization, understanding is still orientated from a view that is based on subject-object dichotomy. As such it is hard to detect this tendency and practitioners continue their journey of building their understanding of ‘No-Self based on Self’.

For Case 2 practitioners, they are in a better position to appreciate the doctrine of anatta. When insight of Anatta arises, all experiences become implicitly non-dual. But the insight is not simply about seeing through separateness; it is about the thorough ending of reification so that there is an instant recognition that the ‘agent’ is extra, in actual experience it does not exist. It is an immediate realization that experiential reality has always been so and the existence of a center, a base, a ground, a source has always been assumed.

To mature this realization, even direct experience of the absence of an agent will prove insufficient; there must also be a total new paradigm shift in terms of view; we must free ourselves from being bonded to the idea, the need, the urge and the tendency of analyzing, seeing and understanding our moment to moment of experiential reality from a source, an essence, a center, a location, an agent or a controller and rest entirely on anatta and Dependent Origination.

Therefore this phase of insight is not about singing eloquently the non-dual nature of an Ultimate Reality; contrary it is deeming this Ultimate Reality as irrelevant. Ultimate Reality appears relevant only to a mind that is bond to seeing things inherently, once this tendency dissolves, the idea of a source will be seen as flawed and erroneous. Therefore to fully experience the breadth and depth of no-self, practitioners must be prepared and willing to give up the entire subject-object framework and be open to eliminate the entire idea of a ‘source’. Rob expressed very skillfully this point in his talk:

One time the Buddha went to a group of monks and he basically told them not to see Awareness as The Source of all things. So this sense of there being a vast awareness and everything just appears out of that and disappears back into it, beautiful as that is, he told them that’s actually not a skillful way of viewing reality. And that is a very interesting sutta, because it’s one of the only suttas where at the end it doesn’t say the monks rejoiced in his words.

This group of monks didn’t want to hear that. They were quite happy with that level of insight, lovely as it was, and it said the monks did not rejoice in the Buddha’s words. (laughter) And similarly, one runs into this as a teacher, I have to say. This level is so attractive, it has so much of the flavor of something ultimate, that often times people are unbudgeable there.


What then is the view that Buddhism is talking about without resorting to a ‘source’? I think the post by Vajrahridaya in the thread ‘What makes Buddhism different’ of your forum succinctly and concisely expressed the view, it is well written. That said, do remember to infinitely regress back into this vivid present moment of manifestation – as this arising thought, as this passing scent – Emptiness is Form. :)

 

    David's Post


    I’m curious as to what people think of John Astin? I absolutely love him, speaking with him over the last year has been very revealing!
    He didn’t really speak to in terms of advaita or Buddhism but what he gets across is wonderful. Curious if anyone else resonates with him, and if you think he has realised Anatta or all 7 stages?

    Comments


  • Henry D. Robinson
    Loved him on the Adams Family!


  • Soh Wei Yu
    Admin
    Top contributor
    John Astin is pointing to anatta (e.g. https://www.awakeningtoreality.com/.../john-astins-posts... ), no doubts. Both anatta and one mind are nondual, the difference is that anatta is nonsubstantialist nonduality, one mind is substantialist nonduality -- an ontological and unchanging substance and substratum being nondual with forms, such that the one inherently existing essence modulates as everything.
    Notice that John Astin never affirmed any unchanging ontological essence at all, he rests merely in transience or the dynamic dance absent of a self or duality of subject-object: "But this painting of reality is unlike any you've ever encountered for it’s not just sitting there, static and unmoving. No, this painting is alive. It is in a state of constant flux; the images moving and dancing, transforming themselves moment-by-moment into something else. Take a look… how is the painting of your life appearing right now? And "
    I suggest reading these links to have more clarity on the difference between substantialist and non-substantialist nondual:
    That being said, anatta is not a finality and John Tan seemed to indicate years ago that his insights could be further refined: "Not necessarily reify but from expression, the depth of knowledge and fine knowledge of how presence manifest isn't there or not appropriately expressed."
    Perhaps could be refined in terms of dependent origination and non-arising.
    See for example:

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    David Mcdonald
    Author
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    Soh Wei Yu thanks Soh, he speaks of it in such a different way than most do. I could read some material and it would go over my head, but I work with John every Sunday and the way he says it penetrates deep and leads to lasting realisation.
    I could read Kevin’s fetter model all day and come out scratching my head. Reading and working with John however it’s very clear


  • David Mcdonald
    Author
    Top contributor
    Soh Wei Yu In that post do you not think there is sort of a reification of “experience” or experiencing? Like a non dual flow of experiencing?


    Soh Wei Yu
    Admin
    Top contributor
    David Mcdonald I don't know but I think he is clear about these two stanzas of anatta:
    There is thinking, no thinker
    There is hearing, no hearer
    There is seeing, no seer
    In thinking, just thoughts
    In hearing, just sounds
    In seeing, just forms, shapes and colors.
    Don't you think so? But beyond that one has to go deep into dependent origination and emptiness.
    By the way there's nothing wrong with flow of experience. Precisely because it is not substantialist nondual then one speaks about flow of experience. Otherwise one will speak of an unchanging absolute.
    On Anatta (No-Self), Emptiness, Maha and Ordinariness, and Spontaneous Perfection
    AWAKENINGTOREALITY.COM
    On Anatta (No-Self), Emptiness, Maha and Ordinariness, and Spontaneous Perfection
    On Anatta (No-Self), Emptiness, Maha and Ordinariness, and Spontaneous Perfection

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  • Soh Wei Yu
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    July 2010:
    (2:34 PM) Thusness: Some of AF articles are quite good.
    And the Realization tallies the experience described.
    (2:35 PM) AEN: oic..
    (2:35 PM) Thusness: it is also not easy to have that sort of clarity.
    many cannot differentiate the difference between non-dual and anatta
    (2:38 PM) Thusness: the only point lacking in AF is the realization of 'process'-based understanding
    (2:40 PM) AEN: what do u mean by process based understanding
    (2:41 PM) Thusness: understanding reality as a flow
    not entity
    (2:45 PM) AEN: oic.. but AF doesnt understand reality as an entity right
    (2:45 PM) Thusness: yes but there is a difference
    (2:46 PM) Thusness: no-subject is directly understood as this flow...
    (2:46 PM) Thusness: which is quite clear in joan's article.
    and in stainlessness and tata articles.
    (2:47 PM) Thusness: as well as steven hagen
    (2:47 PM) Thusness: means there is clarity in expression about this.
    (2:49 PM) Thusness: Because in actual experience, it becomes very clear. If a practitioner were to explore further, it will not be difficult for him to realize the impact of 'view' on experience.
    (2:50 PM) AEN: icic..
    (2:55 PM) AEN: btw is this about the flow: "...Apperceptiveness is observing the moving flow of experience and enjoying things as they are changing ... in full appreciation of being here and participating in this happenstance. Apperceptiveness is seeing the birth, growth, and maturation of all phenomena ... and it is seeing all phenomena age, decay and die. Apperceptiveness is its own attentiveness moment by moment, continuously ... one is the experiencing of the doing of this moment of being alive. Apperceptiveness stops one from adding anything to perception, or subtracting something from it: one does not enhance anything for one does not emphasise anything. One is free to observe exactly what is here now without distortion..."
    "...By living together in peace and harmony, equity and freedom, we have proved that, with pure intent, this is possible for anyone on the planet. Life, after all, was meant to be easy, friendly, comfortable, peaceful, harmonious, ever-changing, fresh each moment, direct, obvious, with the senses allowing intimate and total involvement in this moment of being alive. But then again we all have sometimes suspected this and even had tantalizing glimpses of this perfection. It is the destiny we seek..."
    (2:57 PM) Thusness: yes but what is the insight about?
    (2:59 PM) Thusness: when there is no-subject and experience is a moving flow and has always been so, what does that mean? what is the relationship between in/out, here/there, now/then... awareness/thoughts
    (2:59 PM) Thusness: what does the insight of anatta really tell us?
    (3:00 PM) AEN: hmm... its telling us that there is only a flow of sensations with nothing inherent anywhere?
    (3:02 PM) Thusness: there is non-conceptual thought then conceptual thought, then non-conceptual thought...... there is no Awareness
    (3:02 PM) Thusness: relate this to the quotes u provided in ur comment
    (3:08 PM) AEN: hmm.. so when awareness is the flow, both conceptual thought and non conceptual thought have the same essence and nature... there is no other inherent entity called non conceptual awareness, its just a flow of conceptual and non conceptual thoughts and the flow itself is awareness?
    (3:08 PM) Thusness: no
    (3:09 PM) Thusness: there is no the flow itself is awareness as in true existence
    just mere convention
    (3:09 PM) AEN: oic..
    (3:10 PM) AEN: so the insight is in seeing how nothing is inherent and everything we say like in/out, awareness/thoughts etc are mere conventions?
    but in reality theres only a flow
    (3:10 PM) Thusness: no
    (3:11 PM) Thusness: it tells us why a reality that is always so can become entity base...
    (3:11 PM) Thusness: and how it relates to liberation
    (3:12 PM) AEN: oic...
    (3:46 PM) AEN: it tells us why a reality that is always so can become entity base... - u mean by seeing everything as impermanence, then u realise how u have been solidifying them through grasping them as fixed entities?
    Session Start: Saturday, 24 July, 2010
    (11:28 PM) Thusness: AF sees the universe as this flesh and bone as a realization of one's destiny. This is important.
    (11:28 PM) AEN: destiny?
    oic
    thats like anatta right
    (11:30 PM) Thusness: it is very difficult to explain to u now unless it becomes an effortless experience for u.
    (11:31 PM) Thusness: universe as this body is not exactly right but for now it helps ur understanding of impersonality and the I AM phase.
    (11:32 PM) Thusness: if u refine ur non-dual experience in terms of luminosity with all these insights, then u will understand anatta better.
    (11:33 PM) AEN: oic..
    (1:27 AM) AEN: do u think it is possible to be completely emotionally free and fearless? --> hmm the buddha said arhants with defilements do not have fears right?
    *without defilements
    (1:01 PM) Thusness: i do not like to discuss endlessly without true insight. Unless u have genuine understanding of what 'fear' is first.
    (1:01 PM) Thusness: most of what said is theoretical, nothing much experiential yet.
    (1:01 PM) Thusness: it is like telling me theoretically what "I AM" is, there is no point talking about it and end up in endless arguments.
    (1:01 PM) Thusness: However what is important is to know what is the "mode of thought/perception" for spiritual practice -- not by way of inference, deduction or induction. You must replace the 'how, what, where, when and why' with this new found "mode of perception". So are u able to direct experience 'fear' the way u experienced "I AM"?
    (1:02 PM) AEN: oic..
    (1:33 PM) AEN: fear only arise when there is attachment to a sense of self right, otherwise there is just sensations without fear
    (11:26 PM) Thusness: it is very well written but it is just non-conceptual thought and conceptual thought really. 🙂
    (11:26 PM) Thusness: he still can't get around the idea that there is always only thoughts. Conceptuality creates the separation.
    (11:26 PM) Thusness: and this is the practice of bringing presence to the foreground. U have to touch the rawness of 'thought'
    (11:26 PM) Thusness: to deepen the practice. 🙂
    (11:26 PM) Thusness: it is a good practice to lead a practitioner to the realization of non-dual luminosity.
    (11:32 PM) AEN: oic..
    (11:33 PM) AEN: yah yesterday i was trying to be nondual with thoughts... i notice the tendency to discard thoughts to sink back to a formless background is simply more duality... there is no need need to discard anything
    (11:35 PM) Thusness: not only that...there are different degree as i told u...learn to bring this to the foreground...but first...have more indepth experience of impersonality
    (11:35 PM) AEN: oic..
    (11:36 PM) Thusness: kiloby's explanation is quite good but it has to apply to both thoughts and awareness too.
    Page not found - Kiloby.com
    KILOBY.COM
    Page not found - Kiloby.com
    Page not found - Kiloby.com

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  • Soh Wei Yu
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    Another convo with John Tan during my nondual (pre-anatta) phase:
    Start: Monday, 6 September, 2010
    (9:01 PM) AEN: scott kiloby wrote an article on 'The Flow' http://www.kiloby.com/writings.php?offset=0&writingid=253
    (9:13 PM) Thusness: kiloby's article is very good
    (9:16 PM) Thusness: the article u posted in the blog by kiloby and together with this article, it fairly complete
    (9:17 PM) Thusness: u must be able to integrate the 2 articles.
    (9:17 PM) Thusness: currently u r looking at AF 'aliveness' that is only the luminosity aspect.
    (9:19 PM) Thusness: now the article u showed me has two very important points, tell me the 2.
    (9:23 PM) Thusness: many of the titles seem interesting
    (9:35 PM) AEN: it's talking about self not as something solid but as the flow, ungraspable?
    (9:36 PM) Thusness: no
    (9:36 PM) Thusness: completely out
    (9:37 PM) AEN: its saying that concepts are part of the flow, and concepts do not actually refer to something solid, and therefore thoughts aren't a problem?
    (9:38 PM) Thusness: what is the different between all previous articles and this one?
    (9:43 PM) AEN: the previous article seems to stress more on non conceptuality
    this one seems to talk about concepts as not a problem?
    im not so sure
    (9:44 PM) Thusness: just read through the articles, they are very different
    (9:44 PM) AEN: u're talking about which previous article
    (9:44 PM) Thusness: the one u posted in our blog
    (9:45 PM) AEN: oic..
    (9:47 PM) AEN: im not so sure..
    (9:48 PM) Thusness: so just rem this part
    (9:49 PM) AEN: remember what?
    (9:49 PM) Thusness: rem that there are differences between these 2 articles
    very different in fact.
    (9:51 PM) Thusness: and u r always looking for easy answers. Even if u were to think, u still face the same issue that is mentioned in kiloby's article.
    the article that u pasted in this msn.
    (9:51 PM) AEN: oic..
    (10:29 PM) AEN: in the blog article, scott kiloby talks about objects as being thoughts, emotions, sensations happening in awareness
    in the article he talks about thoughts, emotions, sensations as seamless currents of an unknowable river
    (10:30 PM) Thusness: totally out
    (10:30 PM) AEN: oic..
    (10:32 PM) Thusness: the analogy is the same as the dust and the mirror i told u.
    (10:33 PM) Thusness: but he is unable to get over the idea of the mirror.
    (10:33 PM) Thusness: yet in the article of the blog, he spoke of no mirror
    (10:33 PM) AEN: ic..
    (10:33 PM) Thusness: therefore there is no clarity of the view yet
    (10:34 PM) Thusness: u can see he repeatedly talk about the current is the river
    (10:35 PM) AEN: oic.. but wats the difference between the two articles?
    (10:35 PM) Thusness: first go through all the points first
    all are very important
    (10:36 PM) Thusness: post it in the blog, i see whether i got time to go through...there are some very important points that u have to know.
    (10:37 PM) Thusness: it is also advisable to re-read these articles to have deepening insight.
    (10:40 PM) AEN: posted
    (10:41 PM) Thusness: will go through it these few days
    (10:42 PM) AEN: ic..
    (10:43 PM) Thusness: u posted twice
    (10:43 PM) AEN: yea deleted the other one
    (10:56 PM) Thusness: is AF more about the flow article, or you r left with the world?
    (11:00 PM) AEN: you are left with the world
    AF seldom mentions about the flow
    (11:00 PM) AEN: i think
    (11:02 PM) Thusness: yes
    (11:02 PM) Thusness: what is AF emphasizing?
    (11:02 PM) AEN: the universe, the physical, the actual, the intensity of luminosity
    (11:02 PM) Thusness: yes
    this experience peaks when?
    Page not found - Kiloby.com
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    Page not found - Kiloby.com

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    (11:03 PM) AEN: hmm
    when one experiences consciousness as just the flow?
    (11:04 PM) Thusness: no
    why u like to anyhow link hah
    (11:05 PM) AEN: 😛 the experience peaks when all sense of self/Self is being dissolved?
    (11:05 PM) Thusness: closer
    when u r left with the world
    (11:05 PM) AEN: oic..
    (11:06 PM) Thusness: like what richard herman said, the zen master slaps the floor... luminosity manifested in the actuality
    (11:06 PM) AEN: ic..
    (11:07 PM) Thusness: so u know why i say AF lacks of something?
    (11:07 PM) Thusness: when no-self matures, what is lacking?
    (11:08 PM) AEN: the intensity of luminosity as the actuality of the world?
    (11:08 PM) Thusness: no
    totally out
    this is what AF is about
    how is it that u r unable to see.
    (11:09 PM) AEN: icic..
    hmm its about the insight into awareness as the flow?
    (11:09 PM) Thusness: are u seeing with ur heart or just going through motion.
    how could the AF be lack of luminosity manifesting as actuality.
    (11:10 PM) Thusness: it is expressed all over the place
    (11:10 PM) AEN: ic.. ya
    (11:10 PM) Thusness: if u truly want to know, then u have to be sincere in practice and at least have certain insight.
    (11:11 PM) Thusness: yet 'the flow' has certain misconception
    (11:12 PM) Thusness: it cannot integrate the article 'u r left with the world' with 'the river and the current'.
    go contemplate
    don't anyhow answer
    (11:13 PM) AEN: oic..
    (11:19 PM) AEN: btw u saw rar jungle's post? http://awakeningtoreality.blogspot.com/.../thusnesss-six...
    in the comments section
    (11:19 PM) Thusness: yeah
    (11:20 PM) Thusness: such comment is not so appropriate in the blog
    more appropriate to be in the sgforums
    (11:21 PM) AEN: oic..
    (12:38 AM) AEN: mikael says:
    *i think I have a natural disposition toward the PCE
    *i think i've had one before
    *whenever I "naturally" try to meditate.. I concentrate on the senses and try to "become" the world, ignore feelings by just seeming them as impermanent physical sensations. thoughts are usually non existent because i'm concentrating
    *i'm going to try to cultivate that
    (12:44 AM) AEN: i think i know the difference between the first and second article... the awareness is the world is like talking about the 2nd stanza of anatta with the emphasis on luminosity as the universe, then the flow is talking abuot the 1st stanza of anatta... the insubstantiality of everything as
    simply mind moments arising and passing without anything graspable whatsoever. like a thought is simply an arising bubble... but then the flow article fails to integrate the insight of awareness as simply the 'current', the universe, the sensations?
    (1:58 AM) AEN: the new article still talks about river and current as if river is something inherent even though the current is part of the river... the previous article is talking about how there is no mind/awareness, only the manifestation/current
    Session Start: Tuesday, 7 September, 2010
    (11:15 AM) Thusness: PCE is simply non-dual experience except the realization is about manifestation (coming face to face with the actual stuff, i.e, the other five entries and exits) instead of coming face to face with "I AM".
    ur answer is still no good
    (11:15 AM) Thusness: although ur answer is quite near. You must also be aware of the part on there is no way u can have any 'concepts' of the flow. But the idea or 'right view' is still not there. Not having any 'fixed idea' or 'fixed view' is still not good enough.
    (11:16 AM) AEN: oic..
    (11:43 AM) AEN: what do u think of what upekka said: when we say 'we see the computer screen', we take the 'seeing+computer screen' as one entity and we are conscious to the computer screen. this is what happen to us all the time, this will be what happen to us all the time unless we can not understand Buddha's Teaching
    if we are mindful, if we have sati, if we have yoniso-manasikara, we do not cling to the 'computer screen', we are not with ignoranace (avijja) so do not create any sankhara (kamma-formation)
    when there is no kamma-formation, there is no place for Consciousness to reside on
    (11:43 AM) AEN: one thought moment arisen and fallen away without any residual to come back again in future
    in other words, in one thought moment there is no Dependent-arising activated
    * There is no individual 'seer', there is only Pure Consciousness Seeing.
    * There is no individual 'hearer', there is only Pure Consciousness Hearing.
    * There is no individual 'speaker', there is only Pure Consciousness Speaking.
    * There is no individual 'thinker', there is only Pure Consciousness Thinking.
    * There is no individual' doer', there is only Pure Consciousness Doing.
    * There is no individual 'life', there is only Pure Consciousness Living.
    * There is no individual 'breather', there is only Pure Consciousness breathing.
    This "pure Intelligence" or "living presence" is keeping your entire body together, the "glue" that is holding the whole universe in place as it appears. Functioning your entire body effortlessly and naturally for you. There is absolutely nothing you have to do by "will", to be alive right now! This living presence or livingness naturally IS! It is your natural state of presence.
    (4:44 PM) AEN:
    Just like when you were only a group of cells, this "pure Intelligence" or "Life" was growing you and forming you effortlessly and naturally. Putting together the pattern or body that you have right now, inside your mother's womb all by itself, just as it is still
    growing you right now naturally and effortlessly all by itself. This pure Intelligence, Life or Consciousness, does not need any help from you or anyone else, it knows very well what it is doing!
    Realize that this entire manifested Universe is that exact same one "Presence", unchanged and untouched by time and space. The "Infinite Essence" of this entire Universe is your essence also, one and the same! Only one essence is present, that is your true nature or natural state of presence, not a small transient human being, but this Infinite unchanging Presence of Consciousness.
    Thusness/PasserBy's Seven Stages of Enlightenment
    AWAKENINGTOREALITY.COM
    Thusness/PasserBy's Seven Stages of Enlightenment
    Thusness/PasserBy's Seven Stages of Enlightenment

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  • Soh Wei Yu
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    (8:33 PM) Thusness: this is what your must experience for the next few years
    (8:34 PM) Thusness: + what taught in AF. That is experience the actuality of manifestation
    (8:35 PM) Thusness: PCE must be experienced in both background and foreground and the realization of "I AM" and One Mind must be clear.
    (10:29 PM) AEN: oic..
    (11:11 PM) Thusness: ic...seems like the blog is getting popular...lol
    u promoted too much
    (11:12 PM) Thusness: when u go bmt, u will not have so much time
    (11:12 PM) AEN: ic..
    (11:14 PM) Thusness: wow...visitors is 183
    yesterday
    Session Start: Friday, 10 September, 2010
    (11:39 PM) AEN: yesterday had a weird dream.. u passed away. and i was very sad... lol
    (12:24 AM) AEN: intense luminosity is very blissful
    (10:04 AM) Thusness: lol
    (10:04 AM) Thusness: yes...intense luminosity is very blissful...only in a relax way that 'you' disappears.
    (10:04 AM) Thusness: This is not "I AM" realization
    (10:04 AM) Thusness: anyway your experience of aliveness is good, u r directly experiencing 'this' in the foreground as transience and beginning to experience the bliss of anatta...i hope to write you something before ur enlistment. 🙂
    Session Start: Sunday, 12 September, 2010
    (12:15 AM) Thusness: Thorough aliveness also requires you to disappear. It is an experience of being totally transparent and without boundaries. If you do not fall back to a background, these experiences are quite obvious, u will not miss it.
    (12:21 AM) AEN: oic..
    (12:22 AM) Thusness: In addition to bringing this taste to the foreground, u must also realize the difference between wrong and right view. There is also a difference in saying Different forms of Aliveness and There is just breath, sound, scenery
    (12:23 AM) Thusness: that these arising dependently originates.
    (12:24 AM) Thusness: In the former case, realize how the mind is manifesting a subtle tendency of attempting to pin and locate something that inherently exists. The mind feels uneasy and needs to seek for something due to its existing paradigm.
    . It is not simply a matter of expression for communication sake but a habit that runs deep because it lacks a view that is able to cater for reality that is dynamic, ungraspable, non-local , center-less and interdependent.
    (12:25 AM) Thusness: Otherwise the mind will continue to locate and seek.
    (12:26 AM) Thusness: Lastly also understand that 'bliss' is the result of luminosity, 'liberation' is the result of the insight of emptiness.
    (12:26 AM) AEN: ic..
    so one must understand emptiness also
    (12:27 AM) AEN: like replace the wrong view with right view
    (12:27 AM) Thusness: yes
    (12:28 AM) Thusness: intensity of luminosity into the foreground, into actuality does not result in auto letting go.
    (12:28 AM) Thusness: the mind continues to hold in a very deep level and subtle way.
    (12:28 AM) AEN: oic..
    (12:34 AM) Thusness: so u know why Buddha taught vipassana?
    (12:35 AM) AEN: its to directly experience luminosity without a self and without holding on to something permanent or inherent
    (12:36 AM) Thusness: in the foreground
    (12:36 AM) AEN: ic..
    (12:36 AM) Thusness: as aggregates
    (12:38 AM) AEN: oic..


  • Soh Wei Yu
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    4. On Non-Dual Experience, Realization and Anatta
    I have just casually gone through some of your forum discussions. Very enlightening discussions and well presentation of my 7-phases-of-insights but try not to over-emphasize it as a model; it should not be taken as a definite model of enlightenment nor should you use it as a framework to validate others' experiences and insights. Simply take it as a guide along your spiritual journey.
    You are right to differentiate non-dual experience from non-dual realization and non-dual realization from the insight of anatta. We have discussed this umpteem times. Non-dual experience in the context we are using refers to the experience of no-subject-object division. The experience is much like putting two candle flames together where the boundary between the flames becomes indistinguishable. It is not a realization but simply a stage, an experience of unity between the observer and the observed where the conceptual layer that divides is temporarily suspended in a meditative state. This you have experienced.
    Non-dual realization on the other hand is a deep understanding that comes from seeing through the illusionary nature of subject-object division. It is a natural non-dual state that resulted from an insight that arises after rigorous investigation, challenge and a prolonged period of practice that is specially focused on ‘No-Self’. Somehow focusing on “No-Self” will spark a sense of sacredness towards the transient and fleeting phenomena. The sense of sacredness that is once the monopoly of the Absolute is now also found in the Relative. The term ‘No-Self’ like Zen-Koan may appear cryptic, senseless or illogical but when realized, it is actually obviously clear, direct and simple. The realization is accompanied with the experience that everything is being dissolved into either:
    1. An ultimate Subject or
    2. As mere ‘flow of phenomenality’
    In whatever the case, both spells the end of separateness; experientially there is no sense of two-ness and the experience of unity can be quite overwhelming initially but eventually it will lose its grandeur and things turn quite ordinary. Nevertheless, regardless of whether the sense of Oneness is derived from the experience of ‘All as Self’ or ‘as simply just manifestation’, it is the beginning insight of “No-Self”. The former is known as One-Mind and the later, No-Mind.
    In Case 1 it is usual that practitioners will continue to personify, reify and extrapolate a metaphysical essence in a very subtle way, almost unknowingly. This is because despite the non-dual realization, understanding is still orientated from a view that is based on subject-object dichotomy. As such it is hard to detect this tendency and practitioners continue their journey of building their understanding of ‘No-Self based on Self’.
    For Case 2 practitioners, they are in a better position to appreciate the doctrine of anatta. When insight of Anatta arises, all experiences become implicitly non-dual. But the insight is not simply about seeing through separateness; it is about the thorough ending of reification so that there is an instant recognition that the ‘agent’ is extra, in actual experience it does not exist. It is an immediate realization that experiential reality has always been so and the existence of a center, a base, a ground, a source has always been assumed.
    To mature this realization, even direct experience of the absence of an agent will prove insufficient; there must also be a total new paradigm shift in terms of view; we must free ourselves from being bonded to the idea, the need, the urge and the tendency of analyzing, seeing and understanding our moment to moment of experiential reality from a source, an essence, a center, a location, an agent or a controller and rest entirely on anatta and Dependent Origination.
    Therefore this phase of insight is not about singing eloquently the non-dual nature of an Ultimate Reality; contrary it is deeming this Ultimate Reality as irrelevant. Ultimate Reality appears relevant only to a mind that is bond to seeing things inherently, once this tendency dissolves, the idea of a source will be seen as flawed and erroneous. Therefore to fully experience the breadth and depth of no-self, practitioners must be prepared and willing to give up the entire subject-object framework and be open to eliminate the entire idea of a ‘source’. Rob expressed very skillfully this point in his talk:
    One time the Buddha went to a group of monks and he basically told them not to see Awareness as The Source of all things. So this sense of there being a vast awareness and everything just appears out of that and disappears back into it, beautiful as that is, he told them that’s actually not a skillful way of viewing reality. And that is a very interesting sutta, because it’s one of the only suttas where at the end it doesn’t say the monks rejoiced in his words.
    This group of monks didn’t want to hear that. They were quite happy with that level of insight, lovely as it was, and it said the monks did not rejoice in the Buddha’s words. (laughter) And similarly, one runs into this as a teacher, I have to say. This level is so attractive, it has so much of the flavor of something ultimate, that often times people are unbudgeable there.
    What then is the view that Buddhism is talking about without resorting to a ‘source’? I think the post by Vajrahridaya in the thread ‘What makes Buddhism different’ of your forum succinctly and concisely expressed the view, it is well written. That said, do remember to infinitely regress back into this vivid present moment of manifestation – as this arising thought, as this passing scent – Emptiness is Form. 🙂
    Realization and Experience and Non-Dual Experience from Different Perspectives
    AWAKENINGTOREALITY.COM
    Realization and Experience and Non-Dual Experience from Different Perspectives
    Realization and Experience and Non-Dual Experience from Different Perspectives

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